Storm chaser Mike Boylan of Mike’s Climate Web page has been following excessive climate since 2020, touring to 6 completely different states to take action.
His newest chase, Hurricane Milton, hits near his coronary heart as he’s a Florida native.
HURRICANE MILTON EVACUATIONS IN FLORIDA: WHAT TO PACK AHEAD OF THE STORM
He’s at the moment within the Tampa Bay area, in Oldsmar, and mentioned Hurricane Helene not too long ago devastated the realm.
And Milton could also be worse.
“I’ve got a debris pile behind me just littered with debris for miles and miles and miles. And it’s the same scene up and down all of the Tampa Bay region,” he mentioned.
“This is one story of many, of course, that’s unfolding. And it’s just sad for these folks — they lost everything. Now they’re dealing with possibly a higher storm surge,” he mentioned.
HURRICANE MILTON LEADS TO CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS BEING AIRLIFTED TO SAFETY
On Monday, Hurricane Milton strengthened from a Class 1 hurricane to a Class 5 hurricane with winds predicted to achieve 180 mph, FOX Climate reported.
The Nationwide Hurricane Middle has warned that Milton poses an “extremely serious threat” to Florida with life-threatening impacts.
Boylan mentioned he’s noticing a rise in visitors on roads as individuals rush to evacuate the Sunshine State.
“I sense a little panic, a race. Because the storms will be here tomorrow [Wednesday] night. A lot of plywood and trucks. A lot of people [are] still evacuating, boarding up — [a] familiar sight living in Florida,” mentioned Boylan.
Residents ought to take heed to officers and depart zones the place evacuations have been mandated, storm chaser Boylan mentioned. (AP Picture/Mike Carlson)
He mentioned residents ought to take heed to officers and depart zones the place evacuations have been mandated.
“Being a Floridian — Floridians are stubborn, some of us. Seeing now I was just up there for Helene and seeing ground zero up there, what we got here with a storm 100 miles away — the surge in our area, tens of thousands of homes are flooded right now in our Tampa Bay region.”
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“Now, you add to that, you take it seriously. I mean, you can’t run. Most hurricane deaths are water related. And now we’ve got a flood risk that’s inland with this rainfall. And then we got a surge,” mentioned Boylan.
Boylan traveled to Texas to cowl Hurricane Beryl (pictured right here) and mentioned it was the second-worst hurricane he’s ever tracked. (Mike’s Climate Web page)
Boylan mentioned he feels Milton “in the air,” sharing that the warmth is an indication that he skilled throughout Hurricane Ian in 2022 and in different storms.
He mentioned the worst hurricane he’s tracked was Ian, with Beryl in Texas being the second worst, as a Class 1 storm.
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“Now that it’s my turf, it’s different. When I storm-chase in Louisiana, there’s a one-way road, and it’s in and out. I don’t know where the heck I’m going,” mentioned Boylan.
Now, nonetheless, “this is my turf,” he mentioned. “So, I’ve lived for this moment.”
